10 Bold and Beautiful Flowers That Bloom in Fall

Osteospermum

1/10

Osteospermum, or African daisy, comes in truly unique color combinations, including varieties with bright blue centers or deep purple petals. They put on a grand show from spring through fall and are perennial in the Deep South and in zones 9 and above. They favor full sun to part shade, so give them a bright spot, and you’ll be treated to color all season long. Available on Etsy; $2.69 for 100 seeds.

Turtlehead Chelone

2/10

The Turtlehead chelone, so named because its flowers are shaped like the head of a snapping turtle, blooms from late summer through fall. A perennial ﬂower thriving in zones 3-8, chelone grows quickly and will come back each year to form a dense colony of two-foot-tall blooming stems. It needs moisture, so be sure to water it regularly if it is not planted in at least partial shade. Available at Burpee.com; $10.99 per plant.

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Strawflower

3/10

Strawﬂower is a long-lasting annual that will give your garden color from summer all the way to frost, although in zones 8-11 the plant acts as a perennial. It’s easy to grow and comes in myriad colors. Strawﬂowers dry beautifully right on the stem, so you can enjoy them in arrangements, wreaths, or potpourri long after the plants are gone. Available at Burpee.com; $5.19 for 750 seeds.

Autumn Crocus

4/10

Autumn crocus, with its two- to three-week September show of colorful clustered ﬂowers, is only vaguely related to its spring cousin. Growing best in zones 5-10, it's actually a member of the lily family and has larger blooms than the spring-flowering crocus. Corms (similar to bulbs) need to be planted earlier than most bulbs but can be mail-ordered in mid to late summer. They are poisonous to pets, so be mindful of where you plant them. Available on Etsy; $2 for 10 corms.

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Yuletide Camellia

5/10

The yuletide camellia’s red blossoms will not only perk up your garden come autumn, but they will continue to cheer you straight through winter. Its ﬁery bright blossoms are a beautiful contrast to its dark, glossy evergreen foliage, and it makes an excellent hedge or border shrub in zones 7-10. You can even bring cut ﬂowers indoors to chase away those dreaded winter doldrums. Available on Etsy; $18.99 for one plant.

Toad Lily

6/10

The toad lily has tiny but abundant ﬂowers and begins to bloom just as all the summer ﬂowers are fading. Speckled like their amphibian namesake, they are both unusual and beautiful. Happiest in a shade garden in zones 4-10, toad lilies can tolerate part sun if they are adequately watered. They can make a big statement in September and October, so plant them where they can be easily seen and admired. Available on Etsy; $11.50 for one plant.

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Chrysanthemum

7/10

Found in pots nearly everywhere starting Labor Day, chrysanthemums bring a welcome shock of color to an autumn garden. They are perennial in zones 5-9, but they need several weeks prior to frost to become established. So if you want to enjoy that colorful fall profusion every year, plant a “hardy mum” cultivar in the spring. Available on Etsy; $1.99 for 50 seeds.

Sedum

8/10

Sedum, a succulent-leaved perennial, has many varieties that bloom in fall—including the stunning 'Rosy Glow', which blooms with ruby-red ﬂowers all season in zones 3-9. Drought tolerant and easy to care for, sedum is often found in rock gardens. It is a favorite of butterﬂies, as well. Plant it as a border or mix it with ornamental grasses for a lush contrast. Available at AccentsForHomeAndGarden.com; $3.95 for one plant.

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Small Globe Thistle

9/10

The small globe thistle will begin blooming mid-summer with bright blue ball-shaped ﬂowers and continue right into October or November in zones 3-8. Its unusual ﬂower is a dramatic contrast to its grayish-green foliage. Like strawﬂowers, small globe thistle makes an excellent cut ﬂower and dries well; it will stay pretty in a vase for several weeks. Available on Etsy; $1.49 for 25 seeds.

Butterﬂy Bush

10/10

'Black Knight' butterﬂy bush will certainly add interest to your fall landscape in zones 5-10. It blooms with deep purple to almost black ﬂowers from summer through frost and is a magnet for butterﬂies and hummingbirds. Reaching heights of eight feet or more, it will make a deﬁnite impact. Available on Etsy; $7.88 for one plant.

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